Optimal management for patients with pulmonary metastasis is still debated. True survival benefit from widely practiced pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) is yet to be proved from high-quality randomized controlled trials. The ideal surgical approach for PM is also not generally agreed. VATS offers enhanced recovery and superior functional outcomes but at the expense of less detection of lung nodules and higher possibility of narrow/positive resection margins. The subxiphoid uniportal VATS (uVATS) approach is an evolving new approach with potential advantages including simultaneous access to both lung fields, less pain and faster rehabilitation. These advantages make it a favorable approach for PM, particularly in the setting of bilateral metastases. However, its use is still limited to case reports of a small number of patients. There is room for improvements in subxiphoid uVATS due to reported technical challenges and limitations. Herein, we aim to publicize a comprehensive review of literature on applications of subxiphoid uVATS in PM.

Introdcution: There are sparse prospective studies investigating the role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in management of pulmonary metastasis. Aim: To prospectively investigate short-term surgical and pathological outcomes for PM patients operated on by VATS or open thoracotomy (OT) for management of lung secondaries. Material and methods: Between October 2017 and December 2020, patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy were recruited. Patients were assigned to undergo resection with either thoracotomy (group 1) or VATS (group 2) after multidisciplinary team discussions based on the number, size and location of pulmonary metastasis and underlying lung function. All related short-term surgical and pathologic outcomes for both groups were collected for analysis. Results: Of 58 patients enrolled, 21 were in group 1 and 37 in group 2. Colorectal cancer primary represented 40% of the cases. Patients in the VATS group were more likely to have solitary lesions that are peripherally located and removed by wedge resection, as opposed to patients in the thoracotomy group, who had more anatomical lung resections. More new nodules were likely to be detected during surgery in thoracotomy than VATS cases (p = 0. 027). However, 8 (out of 15) of the newly detected lesions were not malignant. Operative time, blood loss and hospital stay were in favor of VATS procedures. Conclusions: In a highly selected cohort of pulmonary metastasis patients with favorable criteria (peripherally located, small, solitary/oligo-metastasis and cN0), VATS may provide acceptable onco-pathologic outcomes as compared to the standard open thoracotomy.